Fits tune: Mozart
(one tune to: \'Your hands, O Lord, in days of old\')
For St Matthias Day (May 14th)
Part of Acts Chapter 1
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In early days believers met
New apostle to get
To appoint one in Judas\' place
When sad he fell from grace
Yet in a mystery prophesied
By psalmists, they not lied
Spoken, \'May his house be empty
No one live in it\', see
Also \'May someone his place take\'
Again group of twelve make
Someone needed to join the band
To evangel each land
Such a one should a witness be
Who did Christ\'s rising see
His resurrection from the dead
He now our living Head
Must be one from the group chosen
Who with the others when
The Lord Jesus with them travelled
Not one who left or stalled
But one who stayed for all the time
Throughout the Lord\'s life-rhyme
Beginning from when John baptised
\'Til Christ\'s ascent apprised*
Joseph, Matthias, were proposed
Yet not idly supposed
But prayer was made, the Lord to ask
Who should fulfil the task
To take the place of Judas now
They prayed the Lord, show how
If either of the two should be
To join the company
Method of the lot was used
Not \'lucky dip\' abused
But choice was made there after prayer
Which one should with them share
And so Matthias, chosen he
Apostle for to be
Yet all in Christ do have a place
Joseph too, every race
(*apprised - given notice of, informed)